'Extreme Makeover' family announced

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October 21, 2009

Anonymous The Kokomo Tribune Wed Oct 21, 2009, 11:29 PM EDT

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has announced its recipient the Cowan-Brown family of Bunker Hill.

Kokomo area residents might be familiar with this family's daughter, Kori Brown, who has raised money to fight cancer in honor of her best friend while battling her own blood disease.

On Wednesday, Ty Pennington and his team traveled to Miami County to meet the family.

The show will feature the rebuilding of the home of the Andy and Heather Cowan, factory workers who struggle to support their four children Ryan, 16, Trevor, 13, Mason, 8, and their daughter Kori, 12, who is battling a congenital blood disease.

At the age of 6, Kori was diagnosed with a congenital blood disease, affecting her immune system. Kori has developed polyps in her nasal cavity and behind her eyes. She has already endured 17 operations as a result of these painful growths, which must be surgically removed. Doctors believe these polyps may be the result of environmental issues facing the family's home, including an extreme mold infestation. Ryan, Andy and Heather's oldest son, has also fallen ill and has gone to live with his biological father – tearing apart this close-knit family.

Despite the daily struggles Kori faces, she has not let her disease slow her down. During one of her stays at the blood clinic, Kori was inspired by a little girl with whom she shared a room and who remains one of her best friends. Kori has raised over $35,000 for the American Cancer Society in honor of her friend while being restricted to the upstairs of her family's deteriorating home.

"Now, it's up to 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' to build Kori and her family a safe, new home that will allow her to not just fight her own disease, but continue to fight cancer as well," said the show's producer in a press release.

The family will go on vacation to Disneyland while "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Pennington, designers Paul DiMeo, Didiayer Snyder, and Xzibit, celebrity volunteer Platinum-selling artist David Cook, local builder Hallmark Homes, and community volunteers rebuild their home.

The family home is 11040 S. 100 West, Bunker Hill.

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